Bainbridge Island City Council Executive Session and Regular Business Meeting - July 14, 2026

The Bainbridge Island City Council held a special executive session at 5:30 PM to discuss litigation and enforcement actions, followed by the regular business meeting at 6:00 PM. The regular meeting included a proclamation for Disability Pride Month, public comments, consent agenda, and several discussion items including legislative priorities, comprehensive plan implementation regulations, city manager employment agreement, and scheduling a joint public hearing on housing accountability. The meeting adjourned at 10:08 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved accounts payable and payroll, meeting minutes, lease agreement with Bainbridge Island Farmers' Market Association, purchase of Giant Pacific Octopus for public art ($5,000), appointment of Phil Olbrechts as Hearing Examiner, and LTAC RFP criteria and scoring matrix ($400,000).
• Item 5.H (Human Services Funding RFP criteria, $660,000) was removed from the consent agenda and forwarded to the July 28 meeting for approval, motion passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple speakers expressed concerns about the City Manager selection process and the Comprehensive Plan Update process.
• Rob Drury expressed concern with the City Manager selection and the Comprehensive Plan Update process.
• David Marzehl, on behalf of Liveable Bainbridge, commented on the Comprehensive Plan Update.
• Mary Hekman spoke in favor of returning to the Planning Commission's recommendations for the Comprehensive Plan Update and re-opening the application process for City Manager.
• Karla Mather spoke about Council's fiduciary duty and asked to re-open the search for City Manager.
• Mary Clare Kersten spoke in favor of re-opening the City Manager search.
• Gloria Saylor expressed concerns with the Comprehensive Plan Update process and the capacity of the sewer plant.
• Ellen Lockert spoke in favor of affordable housing and expressed concerns with the Comprehensive Plan Update process, water supply, and the City Manager search process.
• Dawn Janow expressed concerns with the City Manager search process and the notice for agenda item 7.B.
• Ron Peltier spoke about affordable housing and the City Manager selection process.
• Mike Suraci and Christine Quinn expressed concerns with the City Manager selection process.

Discussion Items

A. Legislative Priorities for 2027 State Legislative Session

• Interim City Manager Schroer introduced the item. Representatives from Gordan Thomas Honeywell Government Relations presented. Council discussed and voted to forward the priorities and policies to a future meeting (motion passed 7-0).

B. Ordinance 2026-05 – Implementing Regulations for Updated Comprehensive Plan and Winslow Subarea Plan

• Extensive discussion and multiple motions:
  • Motion to amend ordinance by restoring to the version recommended by the Planning Commission on May 21, 2026: Passed 4-3 (Councilmembers Schneider, Mathews, and Fantroy-Johnson opposed).
  • Motion to add provision that FAR may not exceed 1.5 except where bonus FAR for affordable housing: Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to strike "intensely" in Central Core Overlay description: Failed 6-1 (Councilmember Nelson in favor).
  • Motion to strike "an intensely" and add "a more" in Ferry District description (first attempt): Failed for lack of a second.
  • Motion to strike third sentence under Ferry District: Failed 6-1 (Nelson in favor).
  • Motion to strike "an intensely" and add "a more" in High School Road District description: Failed for lack of a second.
  • Motion to strike last sentence under BIMC 18.12.030(C)(2)(a) regarding parking requirements for 100% low-income affordable housing: Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to set minimum parking at 1 space per unit and revert 0.5 references: Failed 4-3 (Nelson, Lant, Hytopoulos in favor).
  • Motion to revert guest parking maximums to 0.5 spaces per unit: Failed 5-2 (Lant, Nelson in favor).
  • Motion to strike phrase in Footnote [1] to Table 18.15.020-1: Withdrawn.
  • Motion to amend Ferry District description to "a more intensely developed district": Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to amend High School Road District description to "a more intensely developed district": Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to forward Ordinance 2026-05 to a future meeting for further consideration after review by Planning Commission in August, return to Council in September: Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to direct staff and Planning Commission to work on language and standards for a mandatory inclusionary zoning program: Passed 7-0.

C. Schedule Joint Public Hearing with Department of Commerce for July 28, 2026

• Motion to schedule a joint public hearing on July 28, 2026 regarding the City's progress towards meeting the Housing Accountability Act: Passed 7-0.

D. Update on Ordinance 2026-04 (2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update)

• Received update from Interim Planning Director Terrell; no action taken.

E. Approve City Manager Employment Agreement

• Discussion on City Manager search process.
• Motion to waive all privileges related to City Manager search: Failed for lack of a second.
• Amended motion to waive privileges except for names of candidates not made public: Mayor ruled motion failed for lack of a second; Councilmember Nelson appealed the Mayor's decision; vote to overturn Mayor's decision passed 4-1 (Mayor Moriwaki opposed, Fantroy-Johnson and Mathews abstained). The main motion then carried 7-0.
• Motion to authorize the Mayor to execute the City Manager employment agreement with John Mauro: Passed 5-2 (Councilmember Nelson and Deputy Mayor Hytopoulos opposed).

Key Outcomes

• Forwarded legislative priorities for 2027 to a future meeting.
• Approved amendments to Ordinance 2026-05, including restoring Planning Commission version, FAR limit, and parking provisions for affordable housing; forwarded ordinance to Planning Commission for further review.
• Directed staff to develop mandatory inclusionary zoning program.
• Scheduled joint public hearing with Department of Commerce for July 28, 2026.
• Authorized execution of City Manager employment agreement with John Mauro (5-2).
• Approved adding Community Needs Assessment presentation to a future council agenda (from Councilmember Fantroy-Johnson).